24 Easy Memorial Day Cookout Recipes
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Plan the perfect cookout menu with these easy Memorial Day recipes for a crowd! Including shareable appetizers, batch cocktails, burgers, and more.
Summer may not officially begin for a few weeks, but Memorial Day weekend really is the true start to summer! Kick off the season with a backyard barbecue to remember. Here are 24 quick, easy, and shareable recipes for a Memorial Day cookout everyone will love.
Cookout Appetizers
Blueberry Lemon Whipped Brie Dip
This light and flavorful whipped brie dip just screams summer. Made with blueberry preserves and fresh lemon, there’s so much flavor packed into such a simple appetizer. Scale it easily to serve a large crowd.
Tomato Bruschetta Crostini
When it comes to Memorial Day cookout appetizers, it doesn’t get much easier than this! Toss together a fresh tomato bruschetta in just a few minutes, toast up some crostini in the oven, and serve with spreadable garlic and herb cheese for a simple yet flavorful appetizer everyone will love.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
You can never go wrong with buffalo chicken dip. This dip is a staple at our family parties – and soon it will be yours, too! It’s thick and creamy and just the right amount of spicy. Plus, you can easily make a double batch for a crowd, or make it in a crockpot to keep it warm throughout the whole party.
Cottage Cheese Spinach Artichoke Dip
Make ahead dips are where it’s at for hosting a party! Whip up this creamy spinach and artichoke dip in the food processor early in the day, then serve it cold when guests arrive. It’s light, fresh, and healthy, and tastes delicious with crackers or chips for dipping.
Chili Lime Chicken Wings
Say hello to your new favorite cookout wings! This recipe is super easy to make for a large crowd, since all you have to do is marinate and bake. Just grab a few foil trays from the grocery store and load them up with these sticky, sweet, and savory wings – and you’ll have a cookout appetizer everyone will be dying to get their hands on.
Cookout Drinks
Rosemary Vodka Lemonade
This might be one of our favorite summertime drinks – a refreshing spiked “lemonade” made with limoncello, vodka, and rosemary simple syrup. It’s bright, herbal, and super sippable. Pro tip: swap the vodka out for gin if you want an even more herbaceous flavor profile!
Caipirinha With Rum
Break out your muddler and impress your friends with your bartending skills this Memorial Day! All you need to make this refreshing Brazilian cocktail is rum, sugar, and a bunch of limes. Simple to make and even easier to drink on a hot summer day.
Mango Mai Tai
Go all out and batch prep some mai tais for your cookout crew! This mango flavored version of the classic cocktail is perfect for washing down a burger and fries. Just be careful not to drink too many of these – they’re seriously addicting.
Limoncello Spritz
Summertime means it’s officially spritz season! Set up a DIY spritz bar for your guests with limoncello, prosecco, and club soda, and your party will be the talk of the town.
Spicy Mezcal Margarita
Looking for something a little more sophisticated to sip on? Try making this spicy margarita that swaps tequila for mezcal – it’ll bring the heat to your cookout in a whole new way. Batch prep the margs and rim the glasses ahead of time, then set everything out for a pour-your-own margarita bar!
Cookout Burgers
Garlic Aioli Burger
Dress up a classic cheeseburger with bacon, caramelized onions, and garlic aioli for an ultra savory burger everyone will love! You can make the bacon and onions ahead of time, then serve them on a platter for guests to build their own burgers while you man the grill.
Pulled Pork Burger
If Memorial Day weekend also means it’s time to break out your smoker, combine the best of both worlds – smoking and grilling – into this decadent barbecue burger. It’s a 50/50 pork and beef patty topped with bacon, pulled pork, and BBQ sauce… sorry, our mouths just started watering. (Even if you don’t have a smoker, you can make pulled pork in a slow cooker and still serve this burger at your cookout!)
Jalapeno Burger
For fans of spice, level up your Memorial Day burgers with pepper jack cheese, sliced jalapenos, and chipotle mayo. Super simple yet so flavorful! And definitely the kind of burger you’ll want to dig into alongside a cookout spread of dips, wings, and cold beer.
Blueberry Lemon Goat Cheese Burger
Hosting a more elevated cookout? Surprise your friends with a gourmet-like combo of goat cheese, blueberry preserves, lemon zest, and arugula on those burgers! Served on a brioche bun for an extra punch of decadence, this burger is what sweet and savory dreams are made of.
Bruschetta Burger
Remember that tomato bruschetta appetizer from earlier on this list? Well, we’re here to let you know that you can also turn it into a burger if that sounds even more appealing. Make some bruschetta, grab that garlic and herb cheese, and throw it all on a hamburger patty for easy flavor – and summery vibes!
BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders
Take a classic bacon cheeseburger and make it mini for a fun, bite-sized cookout appetizer or lunch! These sliders are sweet, savory, and tangy – everything you want in a backyard party. Grab your favorite beer and one of these sliders to ring in the official start to summer!
Vegetarian Black Bean Southwest Sliders
Planning a vegetarian menu or looking for lighter fare? Try these easy black bean southwest sliders instead of burgers this Memorial Day. Slathered with a flavorful sauce and served on Hawaiian rolls, these mini sandwiches pack such a punch you won’t even miss the meat.
Best Cookout Sides
Crockpot Mexican Street Corn Dip
Instead of grilled corn, make this Mexican street corn dip for your backyard barbecue! Just dump the ingredients in a slow cooker a few hours before party time and you’ll have an instant crowd favorite.
Mango Pico De Gallo
Serve this fresh take on pico de gallo with tortilla chips for your Memorial Day cookout. It goes great with burgers, wings, and summery tacos!
Chickpea and Avocado Salad
Skip the pasta salad and make a fresh and healthy salad with chickpeas, cucumber, tomato, and avocado. It comes together in just 10 minutes, and these bright flavors just scream summer!
Roasted Cauliflower Hummus
Swap traditional hummus for this veggie-loaded make-ahead cauliflower hummus this Memorial Day! It’s light and airy and pairs perfectly with crackers, pita chips, pretzels, and veggies, so it’s perfect for snacking on a warm summer day.
Tzatziki With Dill
Instead of serving crudités with ranch dressing, mix up a bowl of creamy tzatziki for a light and healthy dip. Made with lots of cucumber, it’s super refreshing and summery!
Black Bean Corn Salsa
Skip the jarred salsa and prep this ridiculously easy bean and corn salsa ahead of time for your Memorial Day cookout! All you need is black beans, corn, lime juice, and salt. Serve it cold with tortilla chips (and maybe a margarita) and introduce your friends to the best chips and salsa pairing yet.
Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese
Cheeseburgers and mac n cheese are two cookout staples – so why not combine them into one ultimate cookout dish? You can make a big batch of this cheesy mac ahead of time, then simply reheat it in the oven before it’s time to eat. We love to serve it as a side dish with hot dogs, grilled chicken, and other barbecued meats.
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